The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded Lake Hamilton Intermediate School a $4,000.00 grant to support its youth literacy efforts. The funding is part of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s recent award of more than $3 million awarded to support more than 420,000 students attending nearly 800 schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations in the communities Dollar General calls home.
“In our reading intervention program, we have a need of providing books for students to take home and read since many of them do not have access to books outside of school. Our goal is to offer these books to take home as incentives to the students. We work with our students to set weekly and semester goals for their reading. This grant is going to allow us to purchase a variety of books for students to choose from in a variety of reading levels and interests." Danielle Faught, Lake Hamilton Intermediate School Reading Interventionist.
Lake Hamilton Intermediate School provides reading intervention for students based on current classroom performance and by previous years' grade-level data. Those receiving intervention are seen by an interventionist in reading for 40 minutes two to three times per week in a small group setting. This setting allows students to receive direct instruction on specific reading skills such as decoding, fluency, and comprehension. The teaching method used has been proven to show substantial growth in reading.
Students also use a computerized program called Lexia that helps target skills that the students are working on. The program places students in a level-appropriate reading range and allows them to work independently and with their teacher on specific skills such as syllables, spelling rules, and comprehension. The Lexia program allows students to remain focused on short-term goals in reading. As students achieve their short-term goals, they are rewarded for their hard work. The reading intervention program at the intermediate school has assisted in filling the gaps in student learning.
“The Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s work to help individuals pursue their dreams and educational goals stand at the forefront of the Foundation’s philanthropic passions, and we are proud to extend our ongoing commitment to support youth education through today’s grant announcement,” said Todd Vasos, Dollar General’s chief executive officer, and Dollar General Literacy Foundation chairman. “We understand the challenges educators and literacy programs may face and are proud to invest in local literacy and education initiatives to further demonstrate our mission of Serving Others.”
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports organizations that increase access to educational programming, stimulate and enable innovation in the delivery of educational instruction and inspire a love of reading. Each year, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation awards funds to nonprofit organizations, schools, and libraries within a 15-mile radius of a Dollar General store or distribution center to support adult, family, summer, and youth literacy programs. The Foundation also offers a student referral program for individuals interested in learning how to read, speak English, or prepare for the high school equivalency exam. Referrals to a local organization that provides free literacy services are available online here or through referral cards found in the Learn to Read brochures that are available at the cash register of every Dollar General store.
“During this back-to-school season, we are grateful for all of the educators, school officials, librarians, non-profit partners, and volunteers who are working hard to help students excel and create brighter futures for this generation of learners,” said Denine Torr, Dollar General Literacy Foundation’s executive director. “We hope these funds will help provide needed resources, enhance educational programming, and position teachers and students for success.”